Because you are doing something in a way which maybe quick does
not mean any other approach is not appropriate. A man used machine and
cultivated 1 ha of land and thought that another man who cultivated same with hoe
and cutlass is not doing it right, fast or efficiently. The man who used machine
thought the other man is poor, clueless or waste a lot of time. Both must ask
questions to understand each other and find the best way to help each other.
Looking critically at things we feel other people are doing
wrongly before we try to change it - will help us understand the best way to
support them; else, we can escalate their situation unnecessarily. The things
we want to change may include: their family lifestyle or marriage culture,
their mode of worship, their farming system, their feeding habit, their
dressing pattern, their housing or building styles, their communal or private lifestyle,
their favourite sport(s) or forms of exercise, their view on timeliness or
punctuality, their leadership or rulership type, and so many others.
The values, joy, peace, happiness, good health, care and
love derived from these activities are different for different people. The man
with hoe and cutlass was made to think that the man with a machine is better
off and thought he could do same and move himself to a hypothetically “higher”
level. He decided to steal one of the other man’s machine, produced so much,
ate so much, stopped going to farm after thinking he has had more than enough,
got lazy, obese, fell sick and died earlier than his fore-fathers. What he did
not know was that the man with machine did not have a climate for all year
production, has a good storage system, and sells to a wider market to earn
money. He did not know that after sitting on the machine, the man will go for a
walk-out or exercise, eat at specific times and at lesser quantity since he is
not using hoe and cutlass. He did not know that he should not work everyday of
the week or every time of the day even though the machine is not feeling tired
but producing so much. He used all his time in this new-found wealth and lost
time with family, friends, self and community. He could not join friends to run
after wild animals after cultivation with hoes or go to swim in the nearby
river to cool off after farm work. He did not have any reasons to pray again or
join group worship or gatherings. He was too quick to follow only what he saw
without asking or thinking to understand the implications. He must ask before
he decides.
The man with a cutlass and hoe stole one of the machines of
the other man. He could either learn or be taught how to build it or how to use
it sustainably. If the man with cutlass and hoe asked, he may be taught and
supported. He could learn and use the new good properly - if he listened
carefully to know everything involved and what lifestyle changes are expected. The
other man with a machine has some questions to answer. He needs to know how his
activities influence the other person and the environment. He needs to curtail
the negative influence or effect by acting on time. This will help all find an
optimum point for a better world.
This applies to our world today, nations that used swords
are going for guns without proper knowledge or guidance and those that used
guns, are going for machine guns; those that used small bombs are going for
nuclear bomb. They must all stop and answer the question of how all these
changes will benefit human race.
Cheers.
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